wow 3 updates in 1 week. I must be on something (coffee and more free time then ever)

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The rest of the team returned to the tower the next afternoon with stories to tell. Apparently, on finding out Athena had departed early, the Prince had thrown a tantrum and stormed from his party to pout. It wasn't till at least five of his female guests had gone in a bedroom with him that his mood had changed. As for Edward, he had been handed over to the proper authorities while a new team of agents was set to monitor the Prince and his possible mutation. Fury had been notified and let their team know he would be personally monitoring the situation due to the high-level threat it could pose. That sort of power in the wrong hands could be catastrophic.

With the situation seemingly handled, Athena was content to spend the next few days relaxing. The planning of the trip was handed off to her men, who were adamant about turning their excursion into a surprise. Steve had even announced in the morning, days before they planned to leave, that he would be going out to buy some needed materials for their vacation.

It left Athena and Bucky to their plans that morning, Athena heading down to the gym for a much-needed yoga session. Bucky decided to take a long run in the surrounding parks, trying to decompress his anxieties from the past weeks.

After an hour of bending in shapes that had the surrounding agents' eyes widening, Athena headed back to their floor, ready to clean off.

Stepping off the elevator and passing the entrance table, Athena noticed the crystal vase with an array of wildflowers. It was a beautiful bouquet that had her smiling brightly. Picking it up, she gave it a big wif and giggled, spinning in a circle. She clutched it to her chest. Walking farther inside, she placed it on the kitchen counter.

Plucking out the card hidden in the petals, she read aloud.

"No one could keep me from you. With all my love, Your Soulmate."

She turned it over, but it said nothing else. There is no indication of which soulmate left the bouquet. It struck her odd that one would send flowers without consulting the other. They shared so well it was almost ire at times. She reread the card, pondering the words in hopes it may hint to one of her men but it wasn't either of their style. Bucky usually waxed poetry on every card and paper he left her. Steve left tiny drawings around the words to amuse her. She supposed short and sweet was good as well.

Sniffing the vase, she tried to focus on all the scents that had touched it. They were all faint, but none of them were here mates. Athena examined it a moment longer before dismissing it any further. She would see them soon enough and could thank them then.

She smelled the flowers, smiling at the sweet scents that filled her senses. Her mates were so good to her. The still-fresh bouquet on the kitchen table they had given her the week earlier was a testament to their devotion to spoiling her. The poem that had been tired to a stem was now  stuck to the fridge and read,

To Our Thea,

Eyes as green as a lush forest

Hair like spun gold

Your beauty is like the sun

Too much to look at

To hot to touch

But given the chance

We would happily burn beneath you

We will love you till you are the only star left in our sky's,

Forever Yours,

Bucky and Steve

Bordering the poem was an animated sun that Steve had drawn smiling, rays blasting from the sphere. Tiny trees at the bottom of the paper with two figures raising their arms high, one of them having an arm shaded gray. Athena had half a mind to frame the card; it made her feel so achingly warm.

She placed the flowers on the kitchen counter and headed to her room to jump in the shower. A cold draft in the room had Athena hurrying to strip her clothes off to find sanctuary under the hot spray of water. The first sputter of water had her shrieking with its icy blast before it heated to her desired boiling temperature.

"Can I get some shower music going?" Athena asked the room, and Jarvis turned on her usual playlist. Hozier began to play loudly through the speakers, blocking out the world around her, letting his ethereal voice transfer her to a wild forest. The only man in the world her soulmates should ever really worry about.

The volume in the bathroom was so loud that Athena's trained super hearing didn't pick up the soft ding of the elevator, the shift in the air as the doors opened and closed. All she noticed was that the chill she felt was finally leaving, the hot water heating up to seep into her cold skin.

Twelve floors below Athena, a mail career stood waiting for the elevator, headphones blaring music at equal volume, eyes focused on his phone. He didn't notice the doors opening till his papers seemed to eject from their places in the cart, flying in every direction as if a whirlwind had swept past him. The worker didn't notice the unnatural breeze that sputtered out behind him, too busy attempting to capture all of his precious postage.

The air taking form piece by piece, as gasps of pain sputtered out of the unformed mouth. The breeze knocking into the final door at the end of the hall, the slamming of wood catching the mail carrier's attention for a moment before he was back to picking up each piece of paper.

The transition was sudden, molecules and atoms bouncing off each other in frantic zipping motions before a solid humanoid mass began to appear from the iridescent shimmering. Features began to form out of thin air till the body was no longer shaking and fighting to stay in one solid state. His skin felt like ice now that he was made of pure flesh and bones instead of air and water molecules. Every particle of his body had become one with the wind moments before. Now, he felt as heavy as a bolder, stuck to the ground.

Groaning loudly as he fell against the closed door, Ralph held his chest. That was the longest he had ever gone in his other form. Twenty-three minutes, he was floating about Athena's space, waiting for her to return so he could see her reaction to his gift. Just a creature of air and water bouncing in the atmosphere.

He couldn't shake the dopy grin, thinking of how much she had loved the flowers. She had been so fond of his scent that she went as far as to inhale the vase itself.

He scolded himself for staying so long, but she was so enticing as she undressed for him. He knew he should have left and waited till their first time together for her to show off her exquisite body, but he honestly couldn't help himself. He was sure it must have been the irresistible pull of the soulmate bond that kept him in the doorway of her room as she pealed each piece of clothing off slowly as if to entice him into shifting back to his solid form to take her. He had thought better of it, though; no, he would stay true to his plan, and soon, she would belong to him alone.

Looking down at the picture on his desk, he signed dreamily. Stroking the image, he picked up the frame and kissed it with all his passion. He took a moment longer to pour his heart into it, hoping somehow she would feel him if he tried hard enough. His tongue lashing over the cold glass with a broken groan.

"Oh, Athena!" He moaned into the frame. Floors above the woman he fantasized about toweled off her skin, ignorant to the dangers that had been watching her.

"Baby?" Athena heard Bucky call from the kitchen.

Walking out, she toweled off her hair and approached him with a smile. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed forward into him and kissed him sweetly.

"Hello, handsome," she pecked him again on the lips a few more times. Bucky kissed down her cheek till he reached her jaw, letting his head fall to her shoulder.

"Steve, get you flowers? Can't believe he didn't tell me anything." He grumbled into her hair, not letting her go just yet. She giggled at his pouting; such a scary man reduced to a simpering moody beast because he was left out of spoiling their woman.

Her mystery was solved.

"They're pretty, aren't they!" She replied happily, gazing at them while twirling bits of Bucky's hair. The shorter look suited him.

"Very." He said flatly while glaring at them. Turning his eyes back to her, his face softened. "Didn't you want to go get your nails done? I'll go with you, keep you entertained."

She watched as he looked for a way to even the field with Steve, never one to back down from a challenge.

"Yes!" She squealed before pulling from his grip. Well, attempting to as Bucky chose to tighten his grip, forcing her to flush against him. His vibranium arm locking into place with a click.

"Where are you going?" He asked with a glare.

"I have to get changed so we can go!" She said excitedly, jumping in his hold. "Come on, let go. I want a spa day!" wiggling till she could kiss under his chin while saying, "Come on! Please! Buckyyyy!" little kisses raining havic on him, breaking the teasing glare he had been wearing.

He let her go, but not before kissing her one more time, going as far as to dip her low while he ravished her till she smacked his shoulders impatiently to be brought back up.

"Alright, alright!" He conceded, throwing his hands in the air, releasing her to run down the hall. Athena dropped her towel on the way, flashing him before disappearing into her room.

Looking down at his phone, he noticed the time was 10:45. A quick search, and he found the salon they had gone to before was open at noon. An hour to kill and Bucky knew exactly how he wanted to spend it.

Stepping into her doorway, he watched her emerge from her closet, throwing a black tank top next to a pair of Jean shorts. She was still naked and hadn't noticed him coming towards her yet.

"Salon doesn't open till noon." He whispered in her ear; she tossed the pair of lingerie in her hand onto the bed before turning around.

"Well then, I guess I'm not in any rush," she said, letting her hands slide up his chest before wrapping them around his neck. "Whatever will we do with that time?"

"I've got a few ideas." Grabbing her thighs, he lifted her off the ground and walked her to the hallway. He felt her licking her way up his neck, nibbling on his ear.

"I want you to fuck me," She whispered, sighing a noise that had him moving faster.

"That was one of them," he replied, pushing Steve's bedroom door open. Grumbling to himself, Bucky tossed her on the bed. "This'll teach him to leave me out."

"Oh, so you're just doing this to get back at Steve?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, watching as he stripped off his clothes. Each piece was thrown in a different corner, his shirt onto a chair, boxers on the lamp, even going as far as to toss a sock on top of the ceiling fan that was off.

"If I say yes, am I in trouble?"His mischievous look was so enticing, tempting Athena to play.

"Only if you don't make it worth my while. You know I'll be the only one in real trouble when he finds out." Bucky grabbed her ankle and pulled her so that her legs were on each side of him while he stood between her spread legs

Bucky teased a hand between her legs pulled away to show her his now wet fingers. "God, Athena, you're dripping just from thinking about what he's going to do to you." His tongue took a slow sweep of his finger, a groan falling from his plush lips.

"Shut up." She blushed prettily, loving the way he talked to her.

"Yes, ma'am." He said with a smirk before kneeling at the end of the bed. "Just one more thing, kitten, try to be as messy as possible." He wanted Steve to smell her the second he walked into the room.

No reply could part from her before she was pushed into ecstasy. Rolling her hips, she tried to cover the screams that wanted to spill from her lips at the savagery that Bucky exuded while he went down on her. There were no teasing touches or slow caresses. His lips and teeth and tongue devoured her. Animalistic noises reverberated off the walls as he shook his head, bathing himself in her heady taste.

"Bucky!" Her back arched as she came for the first of many times. He gave her soft licks as she came down, whispering softly into her skin that he wasn't even close to finished getting even.

The hour passed quickly, and the pair shuffled to the elevator, both glowing and fully dressed. The salon was only ten minutes away, and the weather was beautiful.  They wandered slowly, stopping at Athena's favorite coffee shop.

Stepping in, Bucky watched as the baristas behind the counter lit up.

"Athena!" One of the teenage boys called with a wave. Walking towards the register, she smiled at each of them. "We haven't seen you in so long..." Leaning closer, he looked around the quiet shop and whispered, "Have you been on a mission?"

Bucky snicked behind her but covered it up with a cough when it caught the attention of the rest of the staff, who were hyper-focused on Athena.

"Oh my god! It's one of your boyfriends!" A short redhead said in awe; an older brunette man beside her squealed into his hand. Similar reactions followed with the rest of the staff.

"This is Bucky." She replied, gesturing behind her; like a good boy, he waved obediently.

"Hello." He tried to sound as friendly and welcoming as possible. Athena seemed to like them all, and he didn't think she would appreciate it if her friends were scared. Though from the looks he was now getting, he didn't know he needed to worry about that.

A chorus of hellos rang out before they asked her what they would like today.

They ordered coffee but stayed near the bar so Athena could talk to her friends. Bucky was happy to tag along; he was still buzzing from being known as Athena's. It was stupid, but it made him feel good; he wasn't known as an Avenger or the Winter Soldier—just one of Athena's boyfriends. Beings hers was the best title he had ever been given.

They left shortly after with their drinks in hand, waving their goodbyes.

The salon farther down the street was upscale, with chandeliers hanging about the room and attendants dressed impeccably waiting at the front, giving off an air of luxury.

"Fanccyyyyy," Bucky said under his breath, his eyes trailing over a small gurgling fountain with real fish in the stone pond below it. Athena let her lip twitch but didn't give anything else away as the hostess greeted them with a giant smile and sweeping arms.

"Welcome in!"

Once Bucky had told them what they wanted, the pair were ushered to their seats and swarmed by a hoard of workers ready to get to business. It shocked her when Bucky confidently announced that it was for two. Athena raised a brow while beaming up at him; she expected him just to observe as he had done in the past.

He had never had a pedicure, never really had anyone touch his feet, period. The soak at the beginning was nice, though he felt the anxiety begin to build when he thought of how much he was about to be touched. Before he could genuinely spiral, Athena reached out and rubbed his arm.

"I'm really proud of you," she said softly. "I know this is way out of your comfort zone."

He let out a breath and nodded, taking his metal hand and laying it over hers.

"I'll be ok."

"You'll be ok." She echoed with a nod, rubbing his arm again. "Now try to relax. It feels good if you get out of that pretty head." She flirted with a grin.

He had stuck it out, only opting out of the portion where the small woman doing his feet threatened him with a cheese grater; he still didn't understand what she wanted to do with that. The encouraging looks Athena kept shooting him had him pushing through when he thought he couldn't.

Bucky sat next to Athena as she got her manicure; the feet touching was all the stimulation he could handle. She understood and with a kiss let him pick out her nail polish color, happy to have him at her side to tell her funny stories, making her and the nail techs laugh loudly by the end of the session.

"Your husband is very funny!" The woman giggled behind her face mask, applying cuticle oil—the final touch to the pretty set.

Athena started to correct her but was interrupted by Bucky, who was smiling brightly.

"Thank you very much!"

He grinned all the way to the register, a happy skip in his step. Swiping his card and leaving a generous tip for each nail tech, he hooked his arm around Athena's waist and led her out. "Come along, Wife."

"Oh hush," her cheeks were stained red as she hid her shy smile. The walk back to the tower was longer due to the detours they decided to take. Once Athena spotted a pop-up market in the park, they crossed through. Vendors sold various handmade items, fresh produce, and vintage clothes.

Bucky was lucky he was a super soldier and also had a wildly large savings account. His soulmate liked to shop, and he desperately loved to spoil her. Bags covered his arms, all filled with something from each booth. Telling her yes gave him a thrill every time. He was tempted to say no once to see her reaction but decided against it. He didn't think he would enjoy seeing her disappointment, even as a joke.

"This has been such a nice day." Athena seemed to melt into his sweet gaze, leaning on her toes to kiss his mouth softly. His lips chased after hers when she pulled away, his hands too full of bags to grab her and drag her back to his chest.

He had one more stop in mind, and a block before they got to the tower, he cut a right to a dispensary he had knew was close by. He had been sent there after Steve and he had depleted Athena's stash.

Once she saw where they turned, she gave him a look that made him feel like he had hung the moon. Fuck Steve and his stupid secret Flowers. He'd get her the only type of flower she really cared about.

"You'll spoil me rotten," she mused while taking the bag from the worker at the dispensary. Smiling, she practically danced out of the store, the bag full of goodies swinging between her fingers. Bucky didn't even bother looking at the total, happily handing the thick black plastic to the budtender, leaving a fat tip and a smile. The words happy wife, happy life bouncing around his brain, like tiny hits of dopamine. He had thought about it, dreamed that one day Athena would marry them but now he didn't want to just imagine it. No, Bucky was starting to realize the title of Husband was the only promotion in life he wanted. And he wanted it desperately. Steve and he would need to start talking soon, even if the bastard didn't want to share flowers. Bucky wasn't that petty.

The ride back to their floor was filled with happy chatter and teasing touches that immediately stopped once the door opened. Standing in the kitchen, seething, was a shirtless Steve, gray sweatpants slung low on his hips. He took in the shopping bags and Athena's obvious glee. He watched as Bucky slowly set the items down, his face a smug smirk.

"Hi, baby!" Athena tried to sound happy as she approached Steve, becoming more submissive with each step she took towards him. Her movements practically a crawl once she was in touching distance. The floor at his feet now looks incredibly interesting, anticipation building into a roiling fire in her stomach. Her panties were wetter than they should be, considering he hadn't spoken a word to her yet.

He took her chin in his hand and made her look him in the eyes. Gods help her.

"Did you have a nice day, pretty girl?" He raised an eyebrow, giving nothing away.

"It was wonderful." She answered honestly and huffed when he let her go. She missed him all day and wanted what contact she could get.

"Glad you have Bucky to make you so happy." She was confused by his words but shook her head at his dejected expression.

"I love getting to spend time alone with each of you. You know that Stevie." She said with wide eyes, staring up at him, her lip pouting to entice him closer. His arms crossed in front of his chest while he stared down at her. Placing her hand on his forearm, she leaned up, trying another direction to soften the man. "I missed you all day."

It seemed to do the trick, and he was tilting his head closer.

"Is that why you fucked him in my bed." His icy tone had her freezing on the spot, and she knew she was only making things worse for herself. "The clothes were a nice touch." He shot at Bucky, who looked unaffected and was content to watch Athena take the punishment he deserved. He was more of a voyeur then he ever thought.

"Thanks." Bucky said with a shrug. Steve rolled his eyes and turned his heated gaze to Athena.

"You all done with me then, little girl? Don't need your Captain anymore, huh?" His gruff tone was filled with promises that Athena desperately wanted him to fulfill. She knew it was all a game, an act to spark something in her core and send her into an unearthly blaze. Oh she would happily play.

Athena franticly shook her head, "No, never! I need you, I always need you!" her hands gripped his arms as she pushed up on her toes so that their chest were pressed as close as his crossed arms would allow.

"Doesn't seem like it to me, he fuck you, get you flowers, take you shopping. What's left for me to do?" Uncrossing his arms, he grabbed the hand that was trying to touch his cheek now, his free hand coming to hold her hip close to his own. Grinding his erection into her, watching her pant at the anticipation he built around her.

"I didn't get her flowers." Bucky's voice was like cold water on their game of flame and heat, the game over in the next second.

"What?" Steve's voice was back to normal, confusion stealing the desire from his features. Athena's head whipped back and forth as if she was watching a tennis match.

"I didn't get her the flowers." Bucky reiterated, his brows pinching together, moving towards the vase and plucking up the card next to it, taking a moment to reread it. "You're positive it wasn't you?"

"No, that was the whole reason I was mad. We always buy them together."

Bucky's face gave away no emotions, passing the card to Steve with a scrunched brow, who shook his head.

"I already read it." He spared Athena a look, who was starting to grow concerned. "Jarvis, who left the flowers?"

It was only a moment before his voice filled the room.

"No one, Captain Rogers."

The trio all looked at each other even more disgruntled.

"How is it possible no one left the flowers, Jarvis."

"It seems, Captain Rogers, that they appeared from thin air; one moment, it is not there; the next, the vase is on the table. I have scanned the video footage, and it shows no signs of tampering. The Towers cameras have seen nothing."

The room was cold, all heat burning to nothing in the face of even more questions. Steve did not hesitate to throw himself into Captain mode.

"Please send the footage to my computer. Notify Stark, Romanoff, and Barton of the occurrence." Steve said without hesitation, his hold on Athena now turning to one of comfort. His head fell atop hers so he could smell her hair's scent.

"Mr. Stark is on his way to the floor. Ms. Romanoff will be arriving shortly. Mr. Barton has returned to his family but requests to know if his assistance is still needed; he has offered to return."

"No. Call him off, we can handle this for now."

"It could just be flowers," Athena said hopefully, but she didn't sound like she believed it.

"When is it ever just something?" Steve shot back, shaking his head, emphasizing the word just. Whoever it was, Steve was going to find them and demand some answers because deep in his gut, he knew something terrible was coming. This wasn't a case of flowers being delivered to the wrong floor, his instincts screaming to take his mate and hide her away like some caveman.

Tony and Natasha arrived and were brought up to speed. After a thorough examination of the vase, no fingerprint matches came up. There were no substances detected or foreign bodies that could harm them. It frustrated them as they raked through the footage for any sign of who the culprit was but came up with nothing. Even after checking the next ten floors of footage, they came up empty.

Tony scanned every pixel with his AI creation, and their questions remained unanswered.

It had the group reeling at the mystery, but after hours of brainstorming, the rain of ideas had stopped. It didn't sit well with anyone to let it go, but they decided they could do nothing else about it now. Extra security measures were added to the community elevator, and the cameras were all tuned up, but beyond that, they were forced to forget about it for now. A feat that was easier said than done.

Athena tossed the vase and flowers into the incinerator in Tony's workshop. She let her own worries burn away with the withered petals. Reminding herself over and over that they could just be flowers. Just some very mysterious flowers.

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wow so Ralph is a mutant and a fucking stalker. someone should kill him off before he gets worse

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